“It just makes sense.”
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” I snap up and she crinkles her face before she sets the fork down, calmly, as if she’s trying to force herself to remain composed.
“Look, he’s had a really hard life. Probably harder than anyone I know. He acts tough, but he has a big heart, I’m not even sure if he knows it or not, but he doesn’t let most people see it. Some of that may be my fault.” I give her a strange look finally latching on to the fact that she said she hadn’t seen him with anyoneelseearlier. She sighs, “I broke his heart.” She says, sarcastically, as she rolls her eyes as if the whole thing is ridiculous to even mention.
“Wait, the two of you were together?”
“Not in the sense, no. Did we fuck, yeah, but I can also say that about a lot of people.”
I can’t help but laugh at her comment, because tells me that she most of the time sees sex is just that… sex. “I think some of that hard life came out earlier.” She grimaces a little.
“The phone call makes a lot more sense now.” She looks up as Ro slides in next to me. “What did you do?” She glares over at him and for the first time I see him tense. I’ve always heard that everyone is afraid of Caroline. I’m not really sure why, she’s so little that I feel like there isn’t much she could possible do, but it makes me smirk that Ro is as well.
“Um…” He trails before he looks over at me and I shrug.
“He woke up as I handcuffed him to the bed.”
“Yup, that’ll do it.” She laughs out before putting down some cash and nodding to the door. “I have something to help with this heart-to-heart.” I’m a little confused as how that’s all it takes for her to have an idea of what happened.
“What?” Ro asks her.
“It’s the only way I was finally able to talk to Ash about it.” She laughs out, shrugging.
I walk between Caroline and Ro as we head into the parking lot. I feel like I should be concerned, but I’m not. His hand rests on the small of my back as if to remind me that he’s there. I watch the lights on the black car flash before we follow her over to it. He opens the passenger door for me, and I catch Care’s puzzled expression when she looks over, seeing the exchange.
“I’m going to follow you guys on the bike.” Then he shuts the door, and moves the few spots over to where we parked.
“Told you. Here,” She hands a baggie over to me.
“What the hell is this?” I look down as the bag tempts me.
“Don’t worry, it’s just weed.”
“But…”
“I know, you said you’re getting clean. It’s pot.” She laughs out, shaking her head. “If it makes you feel better, Ro approves of it.”
“How do you know?” I ask her as she slides the car around a corner, the car jolts forward from her downshifting, and I see the joy in her eyes as we pick up speed.
“He knows me well enough to know I don’t talk about that shit easily. That’s why he called.”
“What do you mean?”
“I guarantee that he wanted to ask how I told Ash what happened. Ro and I are a lot alike, in that sense, but it’s also why he put you in my car. The asshole.” She mumbles the last part to herself.
“I’m confused. Why did he put me in your car?”
“He wants me to tell you. He doesn’t want to talk about it. Like that fucking helps at all.” She grows quiet for a moment before she shakes her head. “Ya know, I’m not even sure if he’s talked about it since the trial.”
“Trial? What the fuck?” I ask her as we come to a stop and Ro pulls up next to us. Getting out of the car, I look at him, and shake my head.
“I’m not your scapegoat.” Caroline laughs from behind me as Ro takes his helmet off and grimaces. “I mean, I’ll be there and talk about it but I’m not telling her. That’s not my story to tell. But I did bring therapy lubricant.”
As soon as she mentions the pot, I look up at Ro who tilts his head, knowing that I’m asking him, and he nods.
“It’ll help.” Caroline shouts over at me. “Stop the body aches.” She makes me laugh as she’s somehow this mixture of chaos and responsibility all rolled up into one. He nods for me to follow behind her and I move, shaking my head.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
